Tamper evident storage device for items of value

Abstract

A system for storing items of value includes a lockable cassette, a door, a container, and a locking mechanism. The lockable cassette includes an opening for receiving items of value. The door is operably coupled to the cassette and is movable between an open position providing access to the contents of the cassette and a closed position preventing access to the contents of the cassette. The container is removably coupled to the cassette for securely storing items of value and includes a closure mechanism configured to restrict access to the stored items of value in the container. The locking mechanism is coupled to the door and is configured to selectively lock the door in the closed position and to selectively operate the closure mechanism. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system to store one or more items of value, the system comprising:
 a lockable cassette that includes an inner cavity and an opening to receive the one or more items of value;   a door coupled to the cassette and configured to transition between an open position that provides access to the inner cavity and a closed position that prevents access to the inner cavity;   a container removably coupled to the cassette and configured to:
 securely store the one or more items of value, and 
 restrict access to the one or more stored items of value using a closure mechanism; and 
   a locking mechanism coupled to the door and configured to:
 selectively lock the door in the closed position, and 
 actuate the closure mechanism. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism further comprises an aperture plate and shutter movably coupled to the aperture plate. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the shutter is configured to selectively transition between an open position permitting the container to receive the one or more items of and a closed position preventing the one or more items of value from being inserted or removed from the container. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to engage with the closure mechanism when the door is in the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to transition the closure mechanism from an open position to a closed position when the locking mechanism is transitioned from an armed state to an actuated state. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the shutter further comprises at least one locking device configured to lock the aperture plate when the shutter is in a closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one locking device of the shutter is frangible. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one locking device comprises at least one locking tab each configured to lock with the aperture plate by inserting the at least one locking device into a locking receptacle located in the aperture plate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a lock configured to selectively lock the door to the cassette and actuate the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a shutter engagement plate configured to engage with a shutter when the door is in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the shutter includes at least one locking mechanism engagement receptacle configured to receive at least one actuation device of the shutter engagement plate. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a shutter engagement plate biasing mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a shutter plate blocking component configured to be selectively displaced by a lock. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises an automatic reset mechanism and linkage system configured to actuate a shutter locking plate from an activated position to an armed position as the door is transitioned from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the linkage system comprises:
 a pivot arm;   a pushrod; and   a pivot lever configured to provide a longitudinal force on the pushrod to longitudinally displace the pushrod relative to the door when the door is transitioned between the closed position and the open position, wherein the longitudinal displacement of the pushrod causes rotational movement of the pivot arm, and wherein the rotation of the pivot arm during a transition of the door from the closed position to the open position causes the pivot arm to transition the locking mechanism from an actuated state to an armed state.   
     
     
         16 . A method to retrieve a secure container from a handling apparatus wherein the secure container is configured to store one or more items of value and is coupled to the handling apparatus to handle the one or more items of value, the method comprising:
 actuating a locking mechanism from an armed state to an actuated state;   actuating a closure mechanism of the secure container from an open position to a closed position;   transitioning a door from a closed position to an open position causing the locking mechanism to transition from the actuated state to the armed state; and   removing the secure container from the handling apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising;
 inserting an open secure container into the handling apparatus;   transitioning the door from the open position to the closed position; and   locking the door in the closed position using the locking mechanism.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus to secure one or more items of value, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to receive the one or more items of value via an opening through an aperture plate; and   a closure mechanism including a shudder operably coupled to the aperture plate and configured to transition, via an actuation of a locking mechanism for a door of a container that receives the housing, between an open position permitting the reception of the one or more items of value by the housing via the opening and a closed position preventing the reception of the one or more items of value by the housing via the opening.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the shutter further includes at least one frangible locking device configured to lock the aperture plate when the shudder is in the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one locking device comprises at least one locking tab configured to lock with the aperture plate by inserting the at least one locking tab into a locking receptacle located in the aperture plate. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to actuate the closure mechanism when the container is coupled to the cassette. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to actuate the closure mechanism when the container is coupled to the cassette and the door transitions between the open position and the closed position.